Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith P. Perera said that the four SLFP ministers who resigned today did so with the forthcoming general election in mind.

Speaking at a press conference in Colombo, he pointed out that the parliament will be dissolved in the near future. Therefore, the ministers who left want to attract attention to their side, Perera said.

They want to give the impression that they are not chasing political positions and that they are not part of the government. They want to show that they do not care for directives of President Maithripala Sirisena and the SLFP Central Committee. They are trying to show that their allegiance is somewhere else, Ajith P. Perera argued.

According to his knowledge in politics, this was a strategic move by the four SLFP members, Perera said.

Meanwhile, the ministers who left the government argued that they were finding it difficult to remain in a government due to several reasons. Former Minister Dilan Perera said that there were several other SLFP ministers who support their move and might join them in the coming days.